Policy Council

• At least 51% of the membership must be current parents/guardians of students in our program.

• Policy Council can elect into membership former program parents/guardians who were Policy Council members within the last three program years. These members will be the past parent representatives.

• Policy Council can elect into membership interested professionals who work in programs that serve low-income families with young children. These members will be the community representatives. Community representatives must attend the fall training and give notice and a statement of their desire to join the council. The community members must be voted in by the elected parents/guardians in order to join the council.
• Members cannot be program staff or substitutes.
• Members cannot be related directly or through marriage to current employees and/or to program substitutes who work 10 hours or more a week.

• Representatives and alternates are elected at their centers in September to October. If a spot for a center representative opens up, another election will be held at the center to select a new representative.
• The term of office is one year from training date to training date. We encourage all representatives, whether returning for another year or not, attend the training session at the end of their term to help new members better understand their roles and responsibilities.

• The Policy Council meetings are held monthly on the first Thursday of each month, except for April. The year’s schedule is provided during the training in November. When meeting in person, members can choose where to attend. The videoconference site is in Hoquiam, at the Washington Elementary Center, or the in-person site is in Tumwater at ESD 113 (6005 Tyee Drive Southwest).
• Policy Council meetings start at 6 pm and end no later than 8 pm.
• Primary Members must attend the meetings. Absences are limited per Policy Council Bylaws.
• Representatives and alternates will be reimbursed for round-trip mileage from the enrolled center to the meeting location. Mileage is at the current state reimbursement rate. Representatives and alternates needing childcare during the meetings can access payments made to the childcare provider directly.

*Child care reimbursement is not eligible to children, spouses, or live-in relatives. Instead, their time spent watching the child may be counted as in-kind contributions to the program.